By Eric Hornbeck

Law360, New York (November 01, 2011, 7:47 PM ET) -- Abercrombie & Fitch Co. on Tuesday settled shareholder derivative claims in Ohio accusing company brass of misrepresenting the retailer's financial performance, agreeing to alter its corporate governance and pay plaintiffs' attorneys $1.5 million.

U.S. District Judge Edmund A. Sargus granted preliminary approval to the settlement Tuesday, scheduling a hearing for Dec. 13.

The suits, which the Sixth Circuit revived in April, claim the defendants touted the retailer's financial performance between February 1999 and July 2006 despite their knowledge of negative trends affecting business. When the company's...